Opinion
A Prophetic Warning Before The Eventual Carnage In Lagos
By Otunba T J Abass
I watched in disbelief the carnage, the destruction, and the horror that played out on the global scene on Tuesday evening, and I couldn’t but shed tears for Nigeria, particularly my beloved Lagos, which shared in the enormous loss.
Here, what happened was not unexpected because it had been predicted earlier during the day at the usual Tuesday meeting of our group – a non-partisan group of professional Lagosians.
A member of the forum had warned about volatility in the atmosphere, which he advised must be handled promptly and with care.
In his own words, “The Bubble in Lagos is about to Burst, And When It bursts, Who And What is Next”?
This warning came before Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu’s announcement imposing a 24-hour curfew in Lagos, and the way and manner the whole thing played out affirmed that earlier warning as prophetic.
The usual Tuesday Forum provides an opportunity for Lagosians across the spectrum to voice their opinion on important national issues, moreso those germane to the growth and development of the state.
It was not, therefore, surprising that the issues of the day were the END SARS protest aimed at curbing police brutality and the excesses of the political class encapsulated in people-deception and served with undisguised arrogance that had been the DNA of the political class.
It is well known how the political class had seen the populace as inconsequential elements and had regularly and perennially impoverished them economically.
There is poverty in the land not because it is not endowed but because of bad governance. This has been the reason for the bad state of infrastructures like bad roads, intermittent electricity and water supply, and also the unfortunate state of the educational sector.
Evidences of the above abound in the country. Lagos State has its shares and could be exemplified by the deplorable condition of all access roads to my home town Epe, Badagry, and the litany of other abandoned projects across the State, the unfortunate inheritance by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwoolu from the previous administration.
We had all decided to pass the night at the host’s residence after the announcement of the curfew, and no sooner, news began to filter in about gunshots around the Lekki Tollgate and the fact that some of the protesters had been gunned down by the trigger-happy men in uniform.
They have now become the victims of the reason for their agitation. The ensuing mayhem resulted in wanton the destruction of more lives and government properties, including landmarks that reflect the spirit of Lagos.
Gov Sanwolu’s family house in Surulere made the list.
It was obvious, what started as a peaceful protest for a just and legitimate cause had been hijacked by those with ulterior motives, with the state, as much as individuals and corporate entities still counting their losses.
The constitution of Nigeria guarantees peaceful protest without any act of intimidation from the constituted authorities. This being the case, the question is, why the senseless killings of these brave men and women? Who ordered the removal of the cameras if it is true the camera was removed, and on whose order were the men in uniform mobilised to the scene?
It couldn’t have been the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, or Governor Sanwoolu as maliciously speculated on social media because it wasn’t within their constitutional purview to do.
While I salute the courage of these peaceful protesters and also condemn in totality the killings of those youngsters, I also denounce the lootings and the destruction of government properties and targeted individuals.
As a Lagosian, I feel saddened seeing several Yoruba heritage buildings and private properties with an estimated value of almost N4 billion burnt down in a state still haemorrhaging from the crisis of the COVID 19.
It is, however, safe to conclude that it is no longer a protest but a political reprisal by those that are hell-bent on bringing Lagos down. Some of us are also complicit in this nefarious attempt under the selfish slogan of taking LAGOS BACK
The enemies of Lagos are at work, and some of us are elated because we see it as a vendetta against our perceived enemy. Some of us are so fixated on Asiwaju Tinubu that we fail to see the looming danger, the destruction of Lagos. It is said that your enemy will go for the head of the unit if they want to destroy the unit. Why the attack on the palace of the Oba of Lagos?
The Spectre Of Profanity, Attack On Oba Akiolu’s Palace.
The desecration of the ancestral seat of power, Iga Idungaran, the palace of the Oba Of Lagos, is an attack on all sons and daughters of Oduduwa. It is sacrilegious, malicious, disrespectful, and condemnable. There was no reason for such an act of desecration. The traditional instrument of office was taken away from the palace and brandished all over the streets of Lagos Island down to Oluwole Street, almost 2 kilometres away. No Lagosian could even attempt to rescue and retrieve the instrument of office. Shame on all of us. How can anyone trust us to take Lagos back when we cannot take the instrument office back? Only a fool will clap while his father’s house is being destroyed.
Lagos: A State Imbued With Remarkable Leaders.
We have always been blessed with leaders that are accommodating and with listening ears and exceptional leadership quality, particularly during our trying periods. Governor Sanwoolu has demonstrated those virtues not only at the height of the pandemic era but during the END SARS protest. He did what a good leader should do in challenging times. He met with the protesters. He met with the President with their demands and set up a panel to look into their grievances. With all these efforts yet, he paid a hefty price with the loss of his Mother’s house.
The Litany Of Devastation
At the count, in case you don’t know, the following towers had been trashed.
- Nigeria Port Authority Lagos – set ablaze
- Orile Police Post, Lagos – set ablaze
- Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos – destroyed
- BRT Terminal, Oyingbo – New Buses set on fire
- Television Continental, Ketu, Lagos – set ablaze
- VIO, FRSC Office, Ojodu – FRSC branded cars, generators set ablaze.
- BRT Terminal, Ojodu, Lagos – buses set ablaze.
- BRT Bus at Berger – set ablaze
- Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja – shut down
10. Recreational Center, Oregun, Lagos – set on fire. - Oba’s Palace, Lagos – vandalised. His scepter of authority seized.
- Sanwo Olu Mother’s House, Surulere, Lagos – set ablaze
13 Kings college on fire - Many lives lost already to the protests all in Lagos and southwest.
- Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos burnt
- GTBank Branches burnt down
- Access Bank Branches burnt down
- Channels Television shut down
- Ajeromi Local Govt Secretariat
- Lagos-Island Local Govt destroyed
- Lagos-Island East LCDA Secretariat set on fire
- Lagos Mainland Local Govt Secretariat Destroyed
- Ibeju Lekki LCDA Secretariat destroyed
- Sanwo-olu’s Uncle’s house on Lagos Island
25.Ikoyi prison burnt
Questions Begging For Answers
The forgoing now leaves us with several questions. For example, who is behind the killings of peaceful protesters?
Who are those responsible for the lives of several police officers lost in the mayhem?
Ans: Enemies of Lagos
Even if they are corrupt, do they deserve to be slaughtered and burnt?
Who ordered the looting and the desecration of some targeted areas of Lagos?
Ans: Enemies of Lagos
Who were the youngsters that were gunned down?
Ans: Lagosians
Where were the properties destroyed?
Ans: Lagos
Who ordered the shooting of these innocent kids?
Ans: Enemies of Lagos
Who will eventually pay for the atrocities?
Ans: 4 million Lagosians who are within the tax net out of 26 million Lagosians.
Undeniably, we had had our share of bad governance in this country, but Lagos state has fared better than other states in the country.
It is obvious that it will no longer be the business of governance as usual, and a new climate of governance is desirous in Nigeria that will guarantee Nigerians of a secure future.
Going Forward, The Way Out
There is no doubt that the protest and the eventual mayhem are by-products of years of neglect, bad governance, a sense of hopelessness, and the failure of our governments to meet our basic needs.
However, the followers have failed the nation just like the leaders. The task of nation-building is a collaborative venture between the leaders and the followers. If the followers are corrupt, definitely, the leaders will be equally corrupt.
We all bear the responsibility for the demise and prosperity of this Nation. If we truly want a change, let the change start from us now.
- It is time to press the reset button and go back to the drawing table of governance to ensure all major indices of human development becomes the benchmark of governance.
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Let’s create a level playing field that ensures the child of nobody becomes somebody with access to education, health care, and job opportunities.
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What about an annual job fair program that will involve all corporate entities in the state facilitated by the State Govt. This will provide a platform to employ based on merit rather than who you know?
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How about the cessation of the politics of arrogance; that perceive those not within the political cycle as suspects?
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A stakeholder meeting should be a meeting of representatives of all strata of the society and not just a selected few members of the political class.
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What makes you as a member of the political class more of a stakeholder than the Okada Driver or the student at LASUTH?
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Such a meeting should accommodate other opinions; Participants must be allowed to say what our leaders need to hear instead of what they want to hear without the fear of reprisal.
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There will also be a need to reach out to more members of the community outside the political circle
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Of course, you would need a marshal plan of true empowerment and a welfare package for the youths to give them a voice and a sense of belonging?
*The government also needs to strengthen the traditional institutional and change people’s perception of their role in public life. There is also a need to deepen the relationship between the monarchs and people and leverage on their clout and influence for growth. There’s need to accentuate their position in the society as an agent of development.
It is unimaginable if the youths would have poured out in that number to protest. Before now, they had been empowered economically and have developed lines of income and sustainability. Obviously, they would think twice before heeding any call to the streets.
But down already, and frustrated for a long time, there was nothing else to hold them back from joining the protests in the streets.
Police Reform
All the aforementioned without a true police reform will be a fruitless exercise. The government needs to take the demand of the EndSARS agitators regarding police reform seriously.
Their demands are entirely in order as they will positive rippletive effect on socio-cultural and economic arrangements of our country.
The policemen need to be well trained, sufficiently paid and adequately equipped to carry out their duty. A gun in the hand of a police officer with dismal welfarism is a recipe for social disaster.
The police officers also need to undergo a psychological and psychiatric evaluation to ascertain their capacity and capability to discharge their obligations.
By the same token, the long-standing mistrust and misgivings on the part of citizens towards the police must be done away with by ensuring that the people begin to see the police as their protector and not an abuser. The engagement between the citizens and the police must also be broadened and deepened.
Lagos Will Bounce Back
Lagos might be down now but will bounce back. The beauty and the strength of Lagos is the resolve and the resilience to overcome challenges. The ability to bounce back from adversity is the DNA of the state, and our diversity has always been our strength. Any town surrounded by water will always enjoy abundant prosperity, which explains the uniqueness of Lagos, the envy of Nigeria.
Lagos is a place of unending opportunities and possibilities. It is successful because of its cosmopolitan nature, its aquatic splendour, and its penchant for inclusiveness.
Lagos has always given hope to the hopeless, food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless. Lagos has always accommodated the lowly and the mighty, provided a level playing field for all to thrive and prosper. Why then are these coordinated efforts by the enemies of Lagos to destroy the Gateway of Africa economy
This is a trying time for us but shall come out stronger.
We shall rebuild, and Lagos will be bigger and better and will always be a place of pride for all of us. Our spirit is higher. Our resolve is unshaken, and the future remains hopeful. We remain undaunted despite the setback. I stand by Lagos, the State Of Excellence. What about you?
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